STAR WARS: RETROSPECTION- Diplomacy

sorry, it's been busy on my side.

I'm going to check out some planets to see on which planet he could be senator. I want someone with connections 😛

But I don't want Naboo since that would be overkill... I'm more thinking of Bothanui but those Bothans aren't considered playing nice I believe?

The Bothans are out-and-out good guys (and eventually join the Rebellion) but they are known for playing dirty to get what they want. Not necessarily a bad thing in the current political atmosphere. Things are steadily becoming a little tense.

yeah, but I don't know if I want to be associated with people who play dirty... could indeed come in handy though

Hard not to be, these days. The Senate is rife with corruption. At least the Bothans are fundamentally good-natured, unlike, say, the Neimoidians.

In any case, your Senatorial contact- most likely an aide to the Bothan Senator- will be blunt with you and say that he dislikes the Mantooinians.

Jelena is ready to meet with the Council whenever they're ready to see us. I think we've done as much research as we're going to get without actually meeting them.

"Try seeing what the last war was fought over," Jelena says to Jovan, regarding his Senatorial contact.

I'll relay that question, recent history should be well understood if we want to solve this conflict

Glad you agree! I feel like this will be along the same lines.

The last war between the Festans and the Mantooinians was, as usual, over resources. The Festans were trying to establish a trade route to help develop their economic potential. The Mantooinians responded with a blockade, claiming that the trade route was already established.

Trorn, the wise old representative of the Council, informs you that the Council is ready to see you.

I think we are ready with prepping?

If anything else comes to mind, feel free to ask- you haven't left Coruscant yet.

thanks, you're giving me the feeling I'm forgetting something terribly important 😛

Not at all!

The Council is not in full attendance when you enter their chamber. About half of them are present, led by Master Windu. He has rested his chin on his hands when you enter, musing about something. The other Councilmembers simply watch you enter without a word.

Trorn closes the doors behind you.

"Welcome, Jovan, Jelena," Master Windu speaks. "I believe Trorn has informed you that you are being brought in to resolve a dispute between Fest and Mantooine. And I presume that you have been doing your research. You are both studious Knights and I would be surprised if you had not."

I'll bow to Windu.

"We have tried our best to understand the situation but I am unsure we have covered all of the aspects, master."

(I'll wait for Jelena to say something, otherwise I would have asked if he could inform us what's going on)

"Even so, our research was very thorough," Jelena says. "I believe I will be able to speak the honorable language of the Mantooinians, should the necessity arise. Or at least be able to translate it.

"And, of course, the history of the conflict. What new developments are there?"

"Currently both factions are meeting to seek some sort of peaceable solution to their problems," Master Windu explains. "As well as a lasting one.

"I am sure you are aware that the primary factor in these conflicts are over resources. The harvesting of, the shipping of, the use of, by either side, has at some point triggered a clash between the Festans and the Mantooinians."

"Yes, we learned as much," Jelena says. "What has prompted the currently conflict?"

"The dispute is regarding a shipping lane used by the Festans to move their resources into the inner worlds of the Republic," Windu says. "The Mantooinians are laying claim to the route using old documents."

I'll mentally check up on the info I got from the last war, since it seems to be the same thing.

"Excuse me master, it would seem this is related to the last war. Are they claiming the same route again?"
(how did that last war actually end?)

The last war ended in a battle in which the losses were equal. It was a draw.

"A good deduction, Jovan," Master Windu says. "Yes, they are attempting to claim the same route."

(*proud*)

I'm not going to say this out loud:

are they openly planning for war or something? They know how this will end!

"Master, they must understand that this will lead to war. Would it be frank to think the council wants us to mediate the situation?"

(or am I wrong and can a commission still do something?)